Due to issues of timing with the Board of Regents (BOR), the administration is asking us to accelerate consultations with the Faculty Senate. The Senate is being asked to review and raise questions, not about the possible restructuring of a School of Health Sciences (this is not a done deal, consultation have just started with departments, we will be consulted later), but only on the basic structure of a four-year degree in Nursing.
Actual courses and specific curriculum will be determined through the regular curriculum process. Think of this more along the line of approving the structure of the Gen Ed, specific content will be completed later. (Most of the specific content is directed by accreditation bodies.) Thus, we are asked to approve moving forward with the BOR, which is needed to allow fundraising and other conversations to take place.
This will be the first of two consultations specific to the Nursing Program. In this first consultation, the Administration will be laying out the basic program and justification. We've also asked, given the dire need for faculty lines for other programs, them to lay out an expected budget (see more below). Senators will be able to ask questions. If some of these are not answered, or if others come up after the meeting, the goal is to gather them together and submit them to the Administration about a week ahead of a special meeting. (Share such questions with the Chair of the Senate, Francis Degnin, by Monday morning, Oct 3rd, so that we can include them during our afternoon planning meeting.)
The consultation during the September meeting will be followed by a second consultation during a special full Senate Meeting on Monday, Oct 10th. At this time, any additional questions can be addressed and the Senate, if ready, can vote on the structure of the program.
Since this will replace the second Monday Senate committee meetings in October, unless something urgent comes up, we will reschedule the fourth Monday in October for Senate Committee meetings.
The primary presenters will be the Provost Herrera and Associate Provost Pease. After Faculty Leadership (Senate Leadership, Chair of the Faculty, UF Leadership) met, we determined that most of the questions we had related to the restructuring, which is not the issue for today. We are just asking about the program, justification, goals, and budget for the Nursing Degree.
Budget:
We are looking for at least two cost figures:
The capital start up costs and the running costs (salaries, etc.)
How much are the start up costs expected to be and where is the money coming from?
Even more important, what are the expected running costs? Faculty Salary, labs, etc. once the program begins. How many students do we expect at the start? As we go forward? Will their tuition dollars exceed the running costs? Or will money have to be drawn from the general fund? Are there other sources? (i.e., perhaps donations from Medical Organizations who need nurses?)
Note: We recieved an updated PP before the first consultation. It has one additional slide beyond the pfd.
